The cost is £13.00 to ride in a pretty challenging old quarry setting between trees etc from 10am to 2pm. Watching them I realised it was money well spent.

By 1pm I was soooooooo tempted to take a spin on any of the bikes that they all offered me a ride on, but I just , only just kept to my self imposed "banning" whereby I had vouched not to touch a bike untill I am back in a job.

I was on the 1200GS, and met the guys at Clackett lane Services on the M25 at 9.30am and by 10am we were at the venue.

A quick unload from Jon's new van, and off to the playpen.

It had been raining recently, so there was the added challenge of slippery clay and leaves etc, but as the day progressed conditions got better and the place dried out. Sunday there was an event booked, and I would think the riding would have been awesome.

Jon and Pete were exellent Mentors to Wes and myself as the Minors on the day.

It is great to see how much sharing of best technique there is in Trials, which I experienced the last time I was out as well.
Even without a bike, I learned a load, thanks guys.

Wes as a typical 16 year old was sickening in his ability to assimilate and put into practice everything the guys showed or told him. (I am jealous)

It took him less than 5 minutes to grasp popping and lifting the front wheel over a small log etc.

Right, pics randomly, for those who like pics.

I forgot my camera at home for some reason, so had to use the mobile phone camera.

Somehow never took a pic of a 52 year old guy on a pristine Ossa with that lovely decompression lever, making the bike hiss and fart downhill.

Unpacked and warming up.

Pete in the yellow helmet is verrrry skilled and makes it all look so easy.

Jon and Wes doing the slow fine motor co-ordination practice.

Jon doing the snotty sideways camber climb. Even walking there proves to be treacherous.

Wes finding his way very quickly, did not take long for him to do some very tidy riding.

2pm came waaaay too soon, and time to shove the bikes back into the van, and head off home.

I am soooo looking forward to having a bike so that I can start learning just how bad I am at bike control.

I noted again over the weekend, there is no room for ego's in this game.

__________________
***** 2006 BMW R1200GS *****

***** 2006 Sachs MADASS 50cc *****

***** 19?? BSA Bantam D7 FREE Bike Resto *****

************************************************** ***************"If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem"
************************************************** ***************

I am soooo looking forward to having a bike so that I can start learning just how bad I am at bike control.

I noted again over the weekend, there is no room for ego's in this game.

Keep reminding yourself, this is a different type of "control" and one that wont "hurt" the control you might already be using. Have fun with it.

Your ego will (if you can allow it to) SHOULD be not wounded, but changed. Have you ridden a full dress Big Road bike (example Full dress Harley comes to my mind)? When I come to a stop I find myself seeing if I can keep my balance a lot more, seldom for a light, but simple stop signs and no traffic I dont have to put a foot down. which is a helluva lot different, than some riders you will see, where it looks freaking akward and precarious when they stop... and when I get ready to go I dont drag feet, Im usually feet up, then go!.

For me (only) this is becaus of trials, IMHO. balance. It is fun! Plus Harley clubs, they have summer games, pretty fun, having to do with balance, these guys didn't grow up on trials bikes either, but they developed some of the same skills...

you will have a ball on trials, as long as you arent the kind of person that cannot stand to be challenged, walks away when it isnt easy, etc.

hell it has taken years to do less than, what some accomplish by age 17, look at Pat Smage, if it bothered me that much, I would take up bowling, just to have that skill-set shoved into my face/ wounding my pride as well, if it was like walking there would be no reason to keep score, and build any pride. Right?

Jon came over today to discuss ways of increasing the sound proofing of his van and ways of fitting stands or fittings to use when transporting 2 bikes or up to 4 mountain bikes, while also having a bed base, and mattress in the mix somewhere.

After a cuppa, the royal tour and a natter we started looking at options......

At some point the plot was lost and Jon's Beta Rev3 came out.... just to check if my space was big enough to create a simple practice ring for the basic stuff people like me have not even considdered, let alone done.

With Jon playing, I fetched the camera from the house and took a few pics.

I also threw a paving brick into the mix for him to hop over.

Ultimately he FORCED me onto his bike to embarrass myself on a few loops, and multiple dabs

I can now conclusively state that the space is actually more than enough for fine control practice, and that when I get to have a bike, I will spend some time down there getting knackered.

It is amazing how tiring even just 15 minutes on a bike is when you are as unfit as I am. Currently I can carry a load of railway sleepers about, but the bike got my knees and calf muscles, as well as the rest of me.

Just when we were packing the bike up, the Postal service delivered my new Nau Helmet...... very chuffed I am.

__________________
***** 2006 BMW R1200GS *****

***** 2006 Sachs MADASS 50cc *****

***** 19?? BSA Bantam D7 FREE Bike Resto *****

************************************************** ***************"If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem"
************************************************** ***************

Jon came over today to discuss ways of increasing the sound proofing of his van and ways of fitting stands or fittings to use when transporting 2 bikes or up to 4 mountain bikes, while also having a bed base, and mattress in the mix somewhere.

After a cuppa, the royal tour and a natter we started looking at options......

At some point the plot was lost and Jon's Beta Rev3 came out.... just to check if my space was big enough to create a simple practice ring for the basic stuff people like me have not even considdered, let alone done.

With Jon playing, I fetched the camera from the house and took a few pics.

I also threw a paving brick into the mix for him to hop over.

Ultimately he FORCED me onto his bike to embarrass myself on a few loops, and multiple dabs

I can now conclusively state that the space is actually more than enough for fine control practice, and that when I get to have a bike, I will spend some time down there getting knackered.

It is amazing how tiring even just 15 minutes on a bike is when you are as unfit as I am. Currently I can carry a load of railway sleepers about, but the bike got my knees and calf muscles, as well as the rest of me.

Just when we were packing the bike up, the Postal service delivered my new Nau Helmet...... very chuffed I am.

I know, TMI. as you get better aquainted with the bike & style of riding, 2 things happen, you have built up muslces you havent used, 2nd you can relax a little bit. I know years back, I was gripping the bars with a death grip, which caused me to be exhausted in minutes instead of hours, plus I was tense tryin to force myself to have balance. I have since then relaxed a hell of a lot, I get tired for new reasons, lol.